stocker



June 2, 1931. J. STOCKER 1,807,639

Rom; MAINTAINER I Filed Nov. 30, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l I V Zmventor p; :3 John Stacker- #2,; .XLML/J'A Gttomeg June 2, 1931. J. STOCKER ROAD MAINTAINER L Sheets-Sheet 2 Zmventor John Stacker A Cttorncg Filed NOV. 30, 1928 June 2, 1931.

J. STOCKER ,807,639

ROAD MAINTAINER 7 31mentor m John Stacker I June 2, 1931. J. STOCKER ROAD MAINTAINER Filed Nov. 30, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3nbentor v John Stacker A 5 Qflorneg Patented June 2, 1931 TBS STA

OFFICE Roan remnr,

npplication filed November 30, me. Serial Ito. $22,633.

This invention relates to a road maintainer and has for its objects, broadly, to provide a maintainer which will consist of few and simple parts so that it may be manufactured at a limited expense and will be convenient and durable in use.

Une of the objects of the invention is to provide such an arrangement of blades for the frame that the loose earth or hummo cks in on the surface will be moved transversely as well as forwardly of a road bed for filling the pockets or depressions so that the road bed will be smooth. 7

Another object is toprovide a main scrap- 1H: er-blade which may be adjusted to various angles relativeto the rectangular frame of the maintainer for co-operation with the first named blades.

Another object is to provide a maintainer so having only two wheels so that it may be conveniently turned about within a limited space.

Another object is to provide such a mounting for the wheels that the blades at one side of the maintainer will cut deeper into the earth than at the opposite side of the maintainer for conducting earth from ditches or gutters toward the middle ofa road bed. i

The inventionincludes an adjustingframe arranged to swing from the frame of the maintainer together with mechanism on said adjusting-frame for adjusting'aH of the scraper-blades to permit them to .enter or lie closely to the ground as may be re-' quired, and includes clamping means for the main scraper-blade found to be of=great advantage for rigidly securing it to the frame of the maintainer, to permit adjustments .thereon and removal therefrom.-

With the foregoing objects in view and others to be mentioned, the invention presents a new and useful construction, com

bination and arrangement of parts as described and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that changes in form, size, proportion of parts and minor details may be. made' asfound to be of advantage, said changes .be-

ing within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a road maintainer embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a-view of the same in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan view showin a part of the rectangular frame of the maintainer, a part of a scraper-blade and a clamping device mounted thereon. Fig. i is a side view of the clamping device, thescraperblade being in transverse section. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the crankshafts, wheels mounted thereon, and a part of the frame for the maintainer. Fig. 6 is a rear view of the maintainer. Fig. 7 is v a perspective view showing a part of the ad uSting-frame and mechanism thereon, a part of a if-shaped scraper and part of the frame of the container.

Referring now to the drawings for a more particular description, numeral 8 indicates a rigid rectangular frame for the maintainer, its rear' end being supported by a pair of wheels 9, the front part of the frame being supported by an adjusting-frame 10 adapted to be connected with a tractor (not shown) or other vehicle by a draw-bar 11,

vided with a coupling-plate 12 to which one end of the draw-bar may be attached. The opposite end of the draw-bar may be connected with the tractor by any suitable means, a pin 13, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, being shown for this purpose. Numeral 14 indicates an upright supportin -frame which projects aboveand is suitably secured to the front end of the frame 8,

"the front end of the frame 10 being proits function being to operate as a support for the adjusting-frame 10."

The frame 10 consists of a pair of arms or bars 15 ivotally mounted at 16 upon the sides of t e frame 8, said bars projecting forwardly-convergent through the frame 14 as shown in Figs. 1 and 7 of the drawings for a mounting of their front ends upon the plate 12. i

As shown in Figs. 2 and 7 of the drawings, the bars 15 are of angular form and each has a part 2: of greater elevation disposed beneath the top of the upright frame 14. In other words these bars have an upward inclination from their pivotal mounting 16 to the supporting-frame 14 and a downward inclination from the frame 1 1 to the coupling-plate 12.

The adjusting-frame thus described and mechanism thereon are for the purpose of elevating or lowering the rectangular frame 8 and scraper-blades relative to the road bed.

By use of its parts to be described the road maintainer ma be drawn by a tractor or vehicle with its rectangular frame and scraper-blades disposed at a suitable elevation so that the entire weight of the maintainer will be supported by the wheels 9 and draw-bar 11, this being a matter of convenience when moving it over concrete pavements or from one locality to another or over roads not to-be operated upon, and said frame 10 is depended upon for permittin the scraper-blades to enter the ground or at least to maintain the scraperblades at a suitable elevation for cutting the hummocks and rough or uneven surfaces and filling the depressions or pockets of a road bed. Also the mechanism on the frame 10 are depended upon for rotating one or both crank shafts 17.

It will be understood that when the drawbar 11 is secured to the coupling-plate 12 by the pair of keepers a and 1) shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, said draw-bar will provide a support for the front end of the frame 10, and when the pin 13 connects the draw-bar to a tractor said tractor will operate as a support for the adjusting-frame 10.

The mechanism which is mounted on the adjusting-frame is very simple and of inexpensive construction. It provides means for elevating and lowering the front art of the frame and scraper-blades relative to the frame 10 and more particularly with reference to the draw-bar 11 and pin 13. Also, as will be seen it provides means for rotating the crank-shafts 17 for elevating or lowering the rear part of the frame 8 and scraper-blades best shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

Numeral 18 indicates a shaft, upon which is mounted a worm-wheel 19 and a drum 20, said shaft having hearings in a pair of upright brackets 21 which are secured to a cross-plate 22, the latter being mounted on the pair of bars 15 of the adjusting-frame 10. At 23 is indicated ar operating-shaft in suitable bearings, provided with a worm 24 in enga ement with the wheel 19 and provided with a hand-wheel 25.

Each crank-shaft 17 is disposed on the rear end of the frame 8 in suitable bearings andprovides a bearing for a wheel 9, and is provided at its inner end with a handlebar or lever 26.

Numeral 27 indicates a flexible strand or cable adapted to be wound upon the drum 20 when the operating-shaft 23 is rotated, and any suitable connection may be made for the cable 27 with the handle-bars 26 or either of said handle-bars for rotating the crank-shafts by rotating the drum 20, the prefgrred parts for these connections 11. now be (1 scribed.

Numeral 28 indicates an attenuated pullrod which is disposed above the maintainer, its front end preferably being provided with a chain 29 having a hook 30 *rlapted to engage the loop 31 of the cable 27. Numerals 32 (Figs. 1-2) indicate a pair of chains of different lengths which are secured to the rear end of the rod 28. Each handle-bar 26 is preferably provided near its outer end with a chain-holder 33, and it will be understood that the chain 29 may be disposed with one of its links engaging the hook 250, and that the end-portions of the chain 32 ma be secured to the holders 33 of the levers or iandle-bars 26.

In operation, if the drum is rotated. in one direction, the levers 26 will be swung forwardly for elevating the frame 8 and scraper-blades from the ground, their weight being supported by the wheels and the tractor as mentioned, and a rotation of the drum in an opposite direction will permit the frame 8 andscraper-blades to move downwardly so that said blades will engage the ground.

As is obvious, the scraper-blades which are rigidly secured to the frame 8 may be maintained in an elevated or lowered position.

As best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, each chain-holder 33 is provided with a slot 0 which opens upon an eye (Z so that when one of the end-portions 0f the chain 32 is moved through an eye d one of the links may become caught in the slot 0, and since each crank-shaft is free to rotate independently of the other crank-shaft adjustments may be made to permit the frame '8 and scraper-blades to be disposed inclinedly, this inclination being transverse and approximately at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the maintainer, this feature being of advantage in forming the transversely curved surface of the road bed, generally required for highways, and it will be seen that, by use'of the parts as described, the degree of transverse inclination for the frame 8 and scraper-blades may be greater or lesser as may be required.

It will be understood that if the distance between a lever 26 and the end of the strand 28 isinereased or decreased, the arcs of movement of the crank-shafts will be changed during operation. While I have shown chains 32 for connecting the levers with the end of the strand 28 and prefer their use, any flexible members may be emlUU ployed and they may be arranged in any suitable manner for maintaining each lever at a selected'distance from the end of the strand '28.

Means are provided for elevatin the adjusting-frame so that its front en may be swung upwardly for securing it to the tractor. For this purpose the hook is first released from the loop 31 and the cable 27 is then used, its loop 31 being placed in engagement with a hook 34 which is mounted on the upper part of the supporting-frame 14, and as described it is obvious that, if the drum is rotated in one direction, the front end-v of the frame 10 may be elevated. This feature is often a matter of convenience since the adjusting-frame is comparatively heavy, but may be readily lifted by use of the operating-shaft 23.

The position of the cable 27 durin this last named operation is shown by otted lines in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

" The frame 10 is provided with a holderplate 35 provided with a pair of slots opening on its upper edge, and .at 36, by broken lines, is indicated a short chain which is secured at its lower end to the frame of the maintainer and is adapted to be disposed with one of its links engaging in one of the slots. of said holder-plate, the result being that the frame of the maintainer will be prevented from moving downward from the adjusting-frame 10 while the latter is supported, this feature being useful in some instances.

It will be understood that the loose part or end p0rti0n e of the chain 29, shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, may bedisposed with one of its links engaging in one of the slots of the holder-plate 35 before the hook 30 is disengaged from the loop 31- of the cable 27 to prevent any swinging movement of the levers 26 or, rotatable movements of the crank-shafts 17.. Numeral 37 indicates, by broken lines, a short chain which may be mounted on a hook 38 which is secured to the maintainer frame and this chain, after it has been mounted on said'hook, is adapted to be disposed with one of its links engaging in one of the slots of the holder-plate 35 for supporting the frame 1 above the ground after the front end of the frame 10 has been connected with the tractor. 1

This second short chain 37 is shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings in dotted lines, and since one of itslinks may engage in a slot of the holder-plate 35 somewhat remote from the slot engaged by the chain. 36 the maintainer frame may be adequately supported by the adjusting-frame lO'and transverse swinging movements of frame 8 avoided.

While I have mentioned cables and chains in describing the invention I do not road bed, will conduct loose earth outwardly as well as forwardly of the forward line of movement of the maintainer, and since the end-portions of these blades project beyond the sides of the frame 8, some of the, loose earth may be carried to the ends of said blades.

Numerals 40 indicate a pair of scraperblades each provided with a brace 41, suitably secured to the frame 8 and suitably secured to said blades. The blades 40 are preferably disposed in the plane of the blades 39 beneath the frame 8 and are socured to said frame -midway between their ends, and their rear ends are secured to a cross frame-plate 42. I v

Each scraper-blade '40 is. disposed approximately at right-angles to a -blade 39 adjacent thereto, and since its outer end is disposed outwardly of the frame 8 beyond the end of a blade 39, all loose earth which may be moved beyond the end of a blade- 39 will be caught by a blade 40 and condu'ctedtoward the middle of the frame 8.

Numeral 43 indicates a main scraperblade having a length greater than the width of the frame 8, and is removably mounted thereon so that, when thus mounted it may be disposed at right-angles to said frame or at selected degrees of inclination, and in operation the pockets in a road' bed will become filled and the surface rendered smooth. The loose earth carried inwardly of the frame 8 by action of the air of scraper-blades 40 during the forwar movement of the maintainer, will be delivered I For this purpose I provide a particular clamping device bestshown in Flgs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, and. consisting of an adjusting-bar 44 adapted to be above and across the frame 8 and a pair of hook-arms 45 carried by the bar 44 adapted to engage the flanges of said scraper-blade, a crankarm 46 threaded in the adjusting-bar being rotatable for pressing the scraper-blade and its flanges-against the bottom of the frame, locking-bars 47 also being employed.

This clamping device has been found to be very ellcctive in firmly securing the scraper-blades to the sides of the frame, and per mits the blade to be shifted to desired 1nclinations conveniently and without undue loss of time. I

On account of the arrangement of the scraper-blades it will be appreciated that a road bed will be subjected to three treatments while the maintainer is moving forwardly, the loose earth being moved forwardly and outwardly by the V-shaped scraper, and moved forwardly and inwardly ot' the frame by the pair of blades 40 and finally the. Earth will be treated, as mentioned, by the blade l3, all of these blades being assembled, comparatively, in a limited area.

By referring to Fig. 7 of the drawings it will be seen that the loop 31 may engage the book 38, and the drum may then be rotated for elevating the frame 8, or rear part thereof, to any suitable height. The chain 37 may then be disposed with one of itslinks engaging in a slot of the plate 35 with its end secured to the book 38 for maintaining frame 8, at the suitable height mentioned, and thereafter the loop 31' may be placed in engagement with the chain-hook 30.

I claim as my invention 2- 1. In a road maintainer arranged to be drawn by a tractor, a. maintainer-frame, scraper-blades below and secured to Said frame, an adjusting-frame mounted upon and extending forwm'dly'of the maintainerframe for a coupling with said tractor, a pair of crank-shafts each provided with a lever and having bea rings on the maintainer-frame, wheels'on the crank-shafts, a drainhaving hearings on the ad j usting-trame, and a strand mounted on the drum and connected with the levers ot the crank-shafts, said drum being rotatable for moving the crankshafts in a circles are for elevating or lowering said maintainer-frame and scraperblades.

2. In a road maintainer, a rectangular frame, a scraper-blade disposed transversely of the frame below the sides thereof, an adjusting-bar above the frame, a pair of hook-bars carried by the adjusting-bar for engaging the flanges of the frame, lookingbars carried by the scraper-blade each engaging a h00k-bar,and a crank-arm threaded in the adjusting-bar, and adapted to be rotated for pressing the scraper-blade against said frame. 1

3. In a road maintainer arranged to be drawn by a vehicle, a maintainer frame having a part adapted to be connected with the vehicle, scraper-blades below and carried by said frame, a pair of crank-shafts each mounted on the frame and provided with a lever, wheels mounted on the crank-shafts, a rotatable drmn carried by said frame, a strand mounted on the drum and provided with a pair of terminal flexible members for mountings on said levers, one of the flexible members of said pair having a length greater than the length of the other member for causing one of the levers of a crank-shaft to move in a circles are greater than the are of movement of the other drankshaft for elevating a part of the maintainer frame when said drum is rotated.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signat nre.

JOHN STOCK ER. 

